Green Galleries in the Twin Cities

Art galleries have a way of not wanting to fit the criteria determined for something to be considered "green." There’s very little recycling happening in these creative spaces (unless you count harvesting scrap metal for sculpture). Social consciousness? This, too, seems to be a rarity in Twin Cities galleries. However, each one of the galleries listed here has made a point to exhibit local art or to take on social issues that challenge the public and a traditional view of art.

Many emerging artist galleries focus more on the profitability of an artist rather than the nature of the work involved. However, hidden within the network of galleries and museums in Minneapolis and St. Paul is a collection of spaces that strives to bridge the distance between the general public and community artists. Furthermore, the smaller size and community orientation of emerging artists also ensure their place on this list, if for no other reason than to help them maintain visibility in the shadow of the larger, independent galleries such as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Walker. But yes, the Walker made it as well. Size isn’t everything – the Walker’s programs make a definite point to include the community. In the end, this listing of galleries and museums gives Art the benefit of the doubt it rarely receives from positions of cultural power.

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Act Locally

Argyle Zebra (AZ) Gallery

Northern Warehouse, 308 Prince St., St. Paul

Phone: 651-255-6624

The AZ Gallery acts as the communal gallery for the artists’ co-op of
Lowertown, St. Paul. Art is produced on site and shown by artists –
what’s more community-oriented?

ArTrujillo Studio Gallery

International Bazaar
301 E. Lake St. Suite 01, Minneapolis

Phone: 612-821-9076

The shopping center housing this gallery turns some people off from
visiting, but ArTrujillo Studio Gallery has some of the best artwork
from the local Latino community.

Jim Brandenburg Gallery

Luverne, MN & Ely, MN

Phone: 877-493-8017

Email: ravenwoodstudios@aol.com

www.jimbrandenburg.com

Brandenburg may be Minnesota’s preeminent nature photographer. His
Boundary Waters images taken between Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice
revitalized interest in the park.

CreArte

Chicano and Latino Arts Center and Museum

4137 Bloomington Ave. S., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-728-5723

The CreArte gallery encompasses both traditional and multi-media art
within a space that focuses on the work of the Latino community.

Flatland Gallery

208 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-378-3890

Email: info@flatland-gallery.com

www.flatland-gallery.com

Flatland seeks out local emerging artists to show in the gallery.
Flatland opened in response to the call for more space for artists to
display their work "at affordable prices."

Franconia Sculpture Park

29815 Unity Ave., Shafer

Phone: 651-465-3701

Email: info@franconia.org

www.franconia.org

Sculptures of scrap iron, wood and other materials rise out of the
fields at the Franconia Sculpture Park, urging people to get out of
their cars and walk among the giant art.

Franklin Art Works

1021 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-872-7494

www.franklinartworks.org

Housed in the heart of Phillips, the Franklin Art Works hosts free
exhibitions focusing on one artist. Each summer, their shows deal with
issues relating to the Phillips community.

Homewood Studios

2400 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-587-0230

Email: homewood@homewoodstudios.com

www.homewoodstudios.com

Homewood studios is an artists’ workspace and small community
gallery/meeting space designed for local artists and community members.

Icebox Gallery

2401 Central Ave, Minneapolis

Phone: 612-788-1790

icebox@bitstream.net

www.iceboxminnesota.com

The thought provoking Icebox Gallery accurately represents the kinds
of hoops artists jump through to show their work. The gallery shows
work from local artists.

Intermedia Arts

2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-871-4444

Email: allstaff@intermediaarts.org

www.intermediaarts.org

Intermedia Arts is the perfect example of what a "green gallery" can
be. They show and promote community art, educate the public and perform
outstanding non-profit work.

MCAD/Calhoun Square Gallery

3001 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-874-3748

www.mcad.edu

Calhoun Square may not seem a very green space for art, but the
MCAD/Calhoun Square gallery still helps to bring the work of student
artists to the community.

Midway Contemporary Art

2500 University Ave. W., Suite C-2, St. Paul

Phone: 651-917-1851

Email: info@midwaycontemporaryart.org

www.midwaycontemporaryart.org

The Twin Cities are in dire need of more non-commercial art space
such as this one. Midway Contemporary Art’s space brings art to the
industrial Midway neighborhood.

Katherine E. Nash Gallery

Willey Hall, 225 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-624-7530

www.artdept.umn.edu

Buried in the basement of Wiley Hall on the University of
Minnesota’s West Bank, the Nash Gallery gets ignored too often.
Exhibits tend to focus on work from the University community and the
Twin Cities.

No Name Exhibitions at the Soap Factory

110 5th Ave. SE, Minneapolis

Phone: 612-623-9176

Email: bethp@soapfactory.org

www.soapfactory.org

No Name Exhibitions gallery sits inside a beautifully renovated
warehouse near the Mississippi. The space helps introduces emerging
local artists to the public eye.

pARTS Gallery

711 W Lake St., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-824-5500

Email: parts@bitstream.net

www.partsphoto.org

The pARTS photographic gallery deals with social and political art as seen through the camera lens.

Resource Center of the Americas

3019 Minnehaha Ave. S., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-276-0788

Email: sjanisch@americas.org

The Resource Center doesn’t have a gallery space per se, but
displays a mural outside and houses art focusing on community and the
Americas inside the building.

Rogue Buddha Gallery

2402 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-331-3889

www.roguebuddha.com

Rogue Buddha attempts to mix all mediums of art within four walls. The ambitious gallery bursts with the color of local artists.

Soo Visual Arts Gallery

2640 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis

Phone: 612-871-2263

Email: information@soovac.org

www.soovac.org

The Soo Gallery attempts to make art more accessible to the
community – even going so far as to distribute art through gumball
machines (for a quarter or two).

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